Rehoming a Dog: When It's Time and How to Do It Responsibly

Is It Time to Rehome My Dog?

“I'm 68 years old. I've just had two spinal fusions to remove a tumor on my spine. My husband just unexpectedly passed away, and I'm left with my 100-pound, 7-year-old, not-so-well-trained golden retriever. He was rescued from a puppy mill, has seizures, is fearful of everything, and is glued to me. I'm in an apartment and can't regularly bathe him or bring him to the vet. Do you think it's kinder to keep him in a not-so-great life or give him to another family? What do you think is better for the dog? I'm sure he's grieving for my husband. Could he take losing me too, or am I being selfish?” —Joanne

Reasons to Rehome a Dog

There are several acceptable reasons that dogs have to be rehomed or taken to the veterinarian to be put down.

• Canine Health Issues: This is one of the most common reasons that pets are brought in to shelters or a clinic to be put to sleep. Your dog is still late-middle-aged, so—except for the seizures—he will probably be healthy for many years to come, but if he does experience health issues like arthritis or cancer and loses mobility, he is going to be hard to move around.
• Human Health Issues: The situation that you explained above gives you plenty of reasons to rehome a 100-pound dog. There are plenty of great dogs for seniors who want a pet, but a large dog that is going to need to be lifted up and down is not appropriate for your situation.
• Anxiety: Separation anxiety is a big issue, and these dogs are sometimes destructive when left alone. It sounds like he already has some anxiety issues, but that does not mean he is going to continue with this same issue if he moves into a multi-dog household or in with a family that has children.
• Aggression: This might be toward the owner or (probably more commonly) toward another canine member of the family. Dogs suffering from aggression issues toward humans are difficult to adopt out and usually end up being euthanized.
• Housebreaking Issues: This is an issue that can almost always be resolved with good training but is still a common reason dogs are rehomed.

How to Rehome Your Dog

A seven-year-old golden is not necessarily going to be easy to rehome, but here are a couple of methods to try.

Create a Listing on Petfinder

If you have the time to search for a good home, please check out Petfinder and make a listing with a good photograph of your dog so that people can come by and visit.

You need to consider an adoption fee so that not just anyone will take your dog. (Adding an adoption fee may narrow down the pool of applicants to those who are genuinely interested in providing a good home for him.)

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Contact Your Local Golden Retriever Rescue

You can also contact the Golden Retriever rescue that operates in your area (do a search for your city and state, and you will find a contact person). They may choose to put your dog on Petfinder anyway, but they may also have volunteers who can take your dog and foster him while looking for a home.

Take Your Dog to a Shelter

The last alternative is to take your dog to a shelter. I want to emphasize that this is a last alternative and you should look into the other two first. If you release your dog to a shelter, he may or may not survive, as many shelters are short on space and will only be able to keep your dog for a limited time before putting him to sleep.

If he were a small dog, he would have a lot better chance of being adopted out, especially at his age.

There are some shelters that will take large senior dogs. They are "no-kill" shelters, but they are often full, so you may not be able to find one in your area. Ask the people who work in Golden rescue in your area, and they may have an alternative shelter that can help.

Good Luck!

I wish you the best of luck. You are not being selfish! All of us worry about this as we get older, and it is nice to hear that you are putting his needs on a level equal to your own. He has a great chance of finding a home, but I cannot tell you that it is going to be quick.

This article is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from your veterinarian. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

© 2023 Mark dos Anjos, DVM